Pen and pencil clasp



p 11, 1945. H. SINGER 2,384,703

PEN AND PENCIL CLASP Filed March 16, 1944 I 31w fznry 3172767 Patented Sept. 1 1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PEN PENCIL CLASP Henry Singer, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application March 16, 1944, Serial No. 526,764 4 Claims. ('01. 24-11) This invention relates to a clasp or securing means for a writing instrument or other objects carried in a pocket, and it is a particular object of the invention to provide means whereby liability of slippage when the clasp or securing means is effective is substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of this kind of a character wherein holding pressures are provided at a plurality of points, thus providing a high degree of clinching.

With the type of clasp or securing meansnow generally in use, it frequently occurs that a pencil, pen or other instrument accidentally slips out of a pocket and becomes lost due to the fact that the usual flexible metal bar loses just enough of its inherent resiliency to prevent the same having the requisite tight grip upon the pocket wall or the like. Another object of the invention is to provide means to overcome this disadvantage and wherein such means comprises a resilient bar provided with means for contact with one face of a pocket wall or the like and wherein the writing instrument, such as the cap thereof, is provided with means for direct contact with the opposite face of a, pocket wall or the like andin a manner to assure two pressure contacts.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my clasp for a writing instrument or the like whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyin drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a pocket clip constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation but viewed at right angles to Figure 1 showing the clip in effective engagement with the wall of a pocket or the like, such wall being in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view in which the cap is in section substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, while the clasp is shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the cap illustrating a modified feature of the invention the resilient arm being omitted; and

Figure 6 is a view of a cap in elevation and with the resilient 'arm removed, illustrating a still further modified form.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes the conventional barrel of a fountain pen and C a usual type of slip cap. It will be understood, however, that the construction of these parts forms no particular part of the invention and that they could to all intents and purposes be a single structure, such as a pencil or other type of writing instrument.

Suitably anchored to the outer end portion of the cap C is an end portion of an elongated resilient arm or bar I disposed inwardly and lengthwise of the cap-C with the major portion of said arm or bar I spaced from the cap C but constantlyurged in a direction thereto.

The free extremity of this arm or bar I is formed to provide an inwardly disposed clamping head 2 for direct contact with the wall 3 of a pocket or the like to provide means for clamping such wall 3against the cap C after the, arm or bar I has been slipped over the wall 3, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The inner face 4 of the head} is downwardly and outwardly tapered so that a reduced contact face 5 is provided for direct engagement with the wall 3 to increase the efficiency of the clamping action.

The cap C at a point'inwardly of the free end of the arm or bar I, or more particularly the head 2, carries a transversely disposed and outstanding rib 6. This rib 6 is disposed transversely of the arm or bar I and is so positioned as to extend beyond opposite sides thereof, as is particularly illustrated in Figure l of the drawing. This rib 6 is also disposed circumferentially of the cap C and is relatively short in length and has its outer'surface rounded or convex in cross section, as is clearly illustrated in the drawing.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, this rib 6 is countersunk within the cap C although it can be otherwise attached or, if preferred, it may be integral, as it is only essential that the mounting or placement of this rib 6 be rigid and permanent for all practical purposes.

As is clearly illustrated in Figure 2, this rib 6 has contact with the wall 3 at the side thereof remote from the head 2 of the arm or bar I and this rib 6 extends outwardly beyond the periphery of the cap 0 to assure the arm I having direct contact with the wall 3 at a point spaced inwardly from the head 2 and at the same time efiecting a crimp 'I in the wall 3, whereby liability of accidental slippage or sliding of the applied cap 0 or its equivalent along the wall 3 is substantially eliminated.

In view of the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that by the use of the invention as just described the clip structure is such as to assure a plurality of clamping contacts at points spaced lengthwise of the instrument and at the same time a resultant crimp or elevation of the wall 3 is effected, as at 1, to provide an additional check and obstruction to prevent slippage along the wall 3.

When the clip is idle or inefiective, the arm or bar I presses directly against the rib 6 but when the wall 3 is received between the arm or bar I' and the cap C, the necessary outward movement of the arm or bar I results in the pressure strain becoming tighter.

The closer the rib or bar I is positioned toward the head 2, the tighterbecomes the locking engagement with the wall 3 and, of course, the harder it is for therib 6 to slide on the wall 3. For this reason the rib 6 and the head 2 must not be too closely related but, of course, spaced apart a distance which will assure that when the clip is effective, there will be continual effective pressure of the wall 3 upon the rib 6 and upon the cap C by the head 2.

In Figure of the drawing is illustrated a form of the invention wherein the rib. 8 is carried by a band 9 which is disposed circumferentially of the cap A or other body, while in Figure 6 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention wherein the rib III is mounted upon an upstanding arm I I carried by a band l2 disposed circumferentially around the cap D or other body or element. It is i to be further stated, however, that thedesired rib may be applied in other ways. In this Figure 6, the resilient arm is cut off or in section at l and the outline of the remove portion is shown in broken lines.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a clasp for a'writing instrument or the like constructed in accordance With my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for securing an instrument such as a pen, pencil or the like in a pocket, comprising a relatively long resilient arm secured at one end to the body of the instrument and provided at its opposite end with a clamping head directed toward the body and adapted to have contact therewith, and a member carried by the body adjacent to the head and between the arm and the body and extending outwardly from the body a distance substantially equal to the width of the space between the arm and body when the head is in contact with the body, the proximity of said member and body being such as to cause a sharp bending of the material of a wall of a pocket interposed between such member an the arm.

2. Means for securing an instrument such as a pen, pencil or the like in a pocket, comprising a relatively long resilient arm secured at one end to the body of the instrument and having an inwardly directed pointed head at its opposite end normally engaging the surface of the body, and a rib member secured to the surface of the body beneath and extending transversely of the arm and in relatively close proximity to the head, said rib having a height from the surface of the body substantially equal to the width of the space between the arm and the body when the pointed end of the head is in contact with the body and adapted to have a portion of the material of a pocket bent thereacross between such rib and the arm.

3. A securing means of the character stated in claim 2, in which said rib has a transverse convex curvature.

4. Means for securing an instrument such as a pen, pencil or the like in a pocket, comprising a relatively long resilient arm secured at one end to the body of the instrument and having an inwardly directed pointed head at its opposite end normally engaging the surface of the body, and a rib member secured to the surface of the body beneath and extending transversely of the arm and in relatively close proximity to the head, said rib having a height from the surface of the body substantially equal to the width of the space between the arm and the body when the pointed end of the head is in contact with the body, and the said means securing the rib to the body comprising a band encircling the body and set into the same.

' HENRY SINGER. 

